Expansible band with detachable links



March 1, 1966 E. H. BENNETT I EXPANSIBLE BAND WITH DETACHABLE LINKS Filed Dec. 20, 1962 INVENTOR.

ELMER H BENNETT ATTORN EYS United States Patent 3,237,395 EXPANSIBLE BAND WITH DETACHABLE LINKS Elmer H. Bennett, Attlehoro, Mass, assignor to Foster Metal Products Incorporated, Attleboro, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Dec. 20, 1962, Ser. No. 246,092 2 Claims. (Cl. 59-82) This invention comprises a new and improved band 'or bracelet of the expansible type constructed and arranged to present an especially attractive appearance and having novel provision for convenient adjustment of length to accommodate an extensive range of sizes.

The invention utilizes a form of spring clasp which has been known for many years but it is now used in a new combination and for a new purpose, that is to say, it is used as a detachable connecting element between adjacent links. Moreover, it is located so that no trace of it is to be seen in the exposed surface of the links or of the bracelet as a whole. Its construction is simplified and the number of parts reduced so that it may be manufactured and assembled at low cost and adapted for reliable performance in long wear.

In accordance with the invention each detachable link has, in addition to an ornamental top shell, only two working parts: (1) a flanged box-shaped back member and (2) a catch of flat spring metal arranged to be reached through a notch or slot provided in the back member.

Another feature comprises a catch formed from a single piece of flat spring metal and shaped to present a flat body corresponding in outline with that of the back member and having notches to receive the bendable ears of the latter, and a projecting catch portion folded to provide an inturned flange arranged to engage the internal flange of the back member.

These and other features of the invention will be best understood and appreciated from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, selected for purposes of illustration and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 comprises views in perspective of the back member in two positions,

FIG. 2 is a view in perspective of the catch member,

FIG. 3 is a view in perspective showing the assembled back member and catch,

FIG. 4 is a view in perspective of the top shell,

FIG. 5 is a view in perspective showing the assembled back member, catch and top shell,

FIG. 6 is a view in perspective showing the elements of the band in exploded relation.

Each of the links herein shown is made up of three components, viz., a box-shaped back member, a fiat spring catch and a top shell.

The back member is shown in FIG. 1 in inverted and upright positions. It is substantially rectangular in outline having a flat body 10 merging into a continuous longitudinal flange 11 on one side and an interrupted flange 12 on the other. At each end the body 10 merges into a perforated offset end portion 13 and from these sections project bendable tongues 14. The body 10 is slotted in its rear edge and the flange 12 interrupted by material removed in cutting out the slot.

The spring catch is designed to fit directly upon the flat body 10 of the back member and to this end has a flat body 15 of its own terminating in notched end portions 16. At its rear side the body 15 is provided with a longitudinal reinforcing rib 17. The body merges at its other side into an outward extension which is folded to form a flange or hook 18 and this flange or hook is provided with a contact rib 19 which may be conveniently engaged when it is desired to depress the catch to break connection with an adjacent link. The hook is shouldered at each end of the rib 19 and is totally enclosed in the adjacent connected link.

The spring catch is assembled with the back member, as shown in FIG. 3, by superposing its flat body 15 upon the flat body 10 of the back member and securing it in that position by bending the tongues 14 over the notched end portions 16 of the catch so that the tongues interlock in the notches. When thus secured the end sections of the catch are superposed upon the end portions 13 of the back member.

The individual link is completed by attaching to the assembled unit of FIG. 3 a box-shaped top shell 20 which,

as shown inverted in FIG. 4, has side and end walls together with bendable tongues 21 projecting from its end walls. The shell 20 completely encloses the body 10 of the back member and the superposed body 15 of the spring catch and is held in place by bending the tongues 21 over the perforated end portions 13 of the back member.

In FIG. 6 are shown portions of a watch band having the usual links 22 expansibly connected by links 23, an end connector link having a barrel 24 and two detachable or interchangeable links constructed as above explained. These are all shown in inverted position, that is to say, with the detachable links having the bodies 10 of the back members uppermost in position to engage the wrist of the wearer. The connector link includes in its structure a complete back member, and the terminal expansion link 22 includes in its structure an outwardly projecting flange or hook 18 of the spring catch.

It will be apparent, therefore, that in each instance the catch may be inserted into the rear side of the adjacent back member. Its folded hook is compressed and passes under the interrupted flange 12 and then springs up so that its shoulders engage within or behind the two end parts of the flange 12.

In the connected relation of the links the contact rib 19 of the spring catch is located beneath the slot formed in the rear side of the body of the member where the rib may be reached with the nail of the wearer or a thin blade when it is desired to release the catch and separate connected links. It will be apparent from FIG. 6 that the catch is completely concealed in the bracelet as worn and can only be reached by stretching the bracelet as a whole and twisting the detachable links to expose their slotted faces. The bracelet as a whole may be shortened by removing one or more of the detachable links.

Having thus disclosed by invention and described in detail an illustrative embodiment thereof, I .claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. An expansible band or bracelet having at least two detachable links at one end, each link comprising a boxshaped back member of substantially rectangular outline having an upright internal flange at its rear side and ears projecting from its longitudinal edges, a flat spring catch secured directly to the back member by said ears and projecting forwardly therefrom sufficiently to enter the back member of the next adjacent link and being shaped to engage with the upright flange thereof, and a rectangular top shell having ears at its ends and being attached thereby to the outer face of the back member completely concealing the spring catch from sight in connected links.

2. An expansible band or bracelet as described in claim 1, further characterized in that the spring catch is completely enclosed within the back member and accessible only by reaching through a slot in the rear side thereof.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Collins 24230 Pruefer 5980 Blanchard 634 Hattenrath 24-230 Ritter 2244.11

Augenstein 59--82 10 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner.

WILLIAM J. STEPHENSON, Examiner. 

1. AN EXPANSIBLE BAND OR BRACELET HAVING AT LEAST TWO DETACHABLE LINKS AT ONE END, EACH LINK COMPRISING A BOXSHAPED BACK MEMBER OF SUBSTANTIALLY RECTANGULAR OUTLINE HAVING AN UPRIGHT INTERNAL FLANGE AT ITS REAR SIDE AND EARS PROJECTING FROM ITS LONGITUDINAL EDGES, A FLAT SPRING CATCH SECURED DIRECTLY TO THE BACK MEMBER BY SAID EARS AND PROJECTING FORWARDLY THEREFROM SUFFICIENTLY TO ENTER THE 